As is customary during the winter months, snow can accumulate and block walking pathways, driveways, and sidewalks.
Most of the time a snow blower can be used to remove the snow and relocate it from the path.
However, seniors may find it difficult to complete the labor associated with lifting and manipulating a snow blower.
The good news is that you can find snow blowers specifically for seniors.
They are lightweight, easy to operate, and require very little in maintenance.
What can you expect? This post will review some of the best snow blowers for seniors in the garden market, how to select the best one, and more.
How Does a Snow Blower Work?
Snow blowers work by picking the snow off the ground using a rotating auger and removing the snow through a discharge chute.
The discharge action can be enhanced with an impeller depending on the type of snow blower.
Like many machines, the snow blower is powered by an engine, either electric or gas powered.
Depending on your engine type you are able to start either a recoil start or ‘push’ a button for electric start.
Smaller snow blowers use a recoil start while larger snow blowers can have both the recoil and a electric push start button.
Types Of Snow Blowers
There are three main types of snow blowers:
- the single-stage snow blower
- two-stage snow blower
- and three-stage snow blower
1. The Single-Stage Snow blower
Single-stage snow blowers handle snow in a single step.
Hence, the name snow thrower – they do not blow snow. They throw it straight through the snow chute.
2. The Two-Stage Snow Blower
Just as its name suggests, a two-stage snow blower has two actions to process the snow.
- First, it picks up the snow.
- Next, it breaks up the snow and puts it into the impeller.
Then impeller will blow the snow through the chute.
3. The Three-Stage Snow Blower
A three-step snow blower processes the snow in a tri-phase process.
The first and second phases are identical to the two-stage version.
The third phase uses an induction accelerator which basically increases the snow breakdown capacity, increasing the feed rate to the impeller.
Factors To Consider When Buying Snow Blowers for Elderly Gardeners
Finding the best snow blower for seniors becomes slightly easier once you know what to look for.
This follows a list of features you should consider when choosing the best snow blower for elderly gardeners.
Quality
Quality is an essential factor to think about when purchasing a product.
Most of the time, you do not want a snow blower that is going to break down on you or fail to do the job that it is supposed to.
A second factor is value for your money as well.
Weight
As individuals age, they often experience a decline in body strength.
Hence, a snow blower that is heavy and bulky can easily wear out an older gardener.
Fortunately there are many excellent lightweight machines on the market that will serve you well and have great traction.
These are good for older people.
Maintenance
A snow blower that demands minimal upkeep would also be best for older gardeners.
It can be a hassle for a user to continually be swapping parts, changing oil, and draining the system before starting their work each time they went to use the snow blower.
A cordless snow blower is perhaps the least given in maintenance, making it ideal for the Grandma and Grandpa lifestyle and their friends.
Storage
Is there enough room in your garage or storage to store a snow blower when not in use?
Make sure to purchase a machine that will fit into the space that you have available.
Some snow blowers can fold the handle so they take up less space and are more portable.
Affordability
Prices vary considerably depending on size, type and brand of snow blowers.
The good news is you can likely find one that fits into your budget.
If price is no object, feel free to buy the most expensive models on the market.
Generally, higher priced products will produce a better overall product. However, this doesn’t mean cheaper models do not get the job done.
Noise Production
The sound of snow blowers can truly be annoying, both for yourself and your neighbors, as they can be loud. Fuel snow blowers are typically noisier than electric ones.
If you don’t mind the noise, then get the fuel snow blower if that is what you want.
If you prefer peace of quiet, then you can not go wrong with an electric snow blower.
Warranty
The warranty tells you a lot about how much confidence the manufacturer has in their product.
So, it is important to check it before you agree to something.
Usually, the longer the warranty period is, the better it is.
Best Snow Blowers For Elderly Gardeners
1. Cordless Leaf Blower
Key Features
- Easy to carry around and use
- 2000mAh capacity battery
- Produces 93 decibels of sound
If you are searching for a snow blower for your grandparents or elderly family members, a cordless leaf blower is a great idea.
This device is light and is great for seniors and others who have mobility issues.
It’s also simple and easy to use. You do not need a manual or even a spare pair of hands to help operate it.
You can easily remove light snow with this machine, as it has a motor that can reach 130 miles per hour and up to 130000 rpm.
It also has a fast charger and a 2000mAh capacity battery that can power the machine for about 20 minutes on a full charge.
It may not seem like much, but this is usually enough time to finish the job.
Pros
- Lightweight
- It has a high-speed motor
- It has a fast charger
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not suitable for clearing heavy snow
Moreover, they operate at a much lower noise level than many other machines, so you won’t have to worry about irritating your neighbors, or yourself, by the noise.
Hot tub bags produce around 93 decibels which, compared to older arrangements, is much quieter.
2. WORX WG471 Power Share 20” Cordless Snow Blower
Key Features
- Single-stage blower
- Brushless motor
- Fully collapsible handle
- It has two power share batteries to ensure high performance
- It has a 180° rotating snow chute
This single-stage snow blower is unprecedented in terms of productivity relative to size.
This snow blower utilizes two Power Share batteries that add a significant amount of power to enhance performance. In fact, the power provided by the batteries allows the auger on the unit to easily cut through existing compacted snow.
Furthermore, the chute on the snow blower has a rotatable rotation mechanism and moves to a height of 180° that allows you to throw snow in whatever direction you want it to go. In this model, snow can be thrown up to 20 feet!
The machine uses a brushless motor model that is incredibly efficient. Brushless motors use less battery than their brush-type counterparts and create much more power.
With LED Headlights on the snow blower, Dual LED Headlights will also help with clearing snow at night.
Pros
- Dual LED Headlights
- A fully collapsible handle
- It has an ergonomic handle
Cons
- It may not be suitable for clearing snow over a large area since it is a single-stage machine
Additionally, it features a collapsible handle that is fully integrated to provide a more storage-friendly design that takes less space.
The collapsible handle also incorporates an ergonomic handle meaning it will be easy to use and comfortable to carry around.
3. Snow Joe SJ625E Electric Walk-Behind Single Stage Snow Thrower
Key Features
- 15-amp motor
- 180⁰ rotating chute
- It also comes with a 3 W LED light, making clearing snow at night safe
- It has a 180° rotating chute
The Snow Joe was designed specifically for clearing deeper and heavier snowfall on medium-sized driveways and walkways, while still being affordable to purchase and easy to use.
With a 15-amp motor, it is powerful enough to clear 800 pounds of snow per minute.
Additionally, the chute rotates 180°, allowing you to throw snow where you want.
Being electric, it is quieter than gas snow blowers.
Because it is an electric snow blower there is no need to buy fuel, oil, or tune up.
Pros
- Affordable
- It can easily clear heavy snow, moving up to 800 pounds per minute
- Less noise since it’s electric
Cons
- You have to be on the lookout for the electric cord
Another highlight will be the 3 W LED light, which will allow you to safely clear snow from your driveway even when it is dark.
Since it has an electric cord you have to be mindful of that cord so as not to run it over and offend it.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of snow blower is the best?
In terms of power and efficiency, 3 stage snow blowers are exponentially better than other kinds. Nevertheless, if you wish to have a cheaper and lightweight machine, then a single-stage blower is an option.
In general, it all depends on your needs and where you plan to use the snow blower.
How long do snow blowers last?
In general, a single-stage snow blower will last for about 10 years on average. A two-stage or three-stage snow blower will last longer. Expect to get around 15 to 25 years of use out of them.
That said, you won’t get that type of longevity unless you take good care of it.
Is it worth getting a snow blower?
Ultimately, it’s your call. What does your location get year after year, and in regard to both frequency and total accumulation?
If your snowfall is worthy of 6 or more inches, and affects a portion of your property, you should consider investing in a snow blower.
Final Thoughts
If you’re an elderly gardener interested in buying a snow blower or would like to simply buy a snow blower for an elderly person, then happy this article finds you well.
If you would like more information on the products reviewed, or if you would like to go ahead and buy one, they are linked above.